By Billy Begas
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the measure which implements Resolution of Both Houses no. 6 that calls for the convening of the Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced the passage of House Bill 7352, which garnered 301 affirmative votes and seven negative votes.
Romualdez said the proposal seeks to change the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution to enable the country to attract more foreign investments.
“We need more foreign capital to create additional job and income opportunities for our people. Increased investments will sustain our economic growth,” Romualdez said.
The Con-Con shall be composed of elected delegates, one from each legislative district, to be voted on Oct. 30, 2023, and appointed members to be selected by the Speaker and the Senate President from different sectors.
Con-Con delegates will have a seven-month term from December 1, 2023, up to June 30, 2024.
A delegate must be at least 25 years of age on the day of his election or appointment, must be a college degree holder, a registered voter in his district, and a resident of such district at least one year before the election.
Those convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude are disqualified to become Con-Con delegates.
Officers and members of all political parties or coalitions shall be prohibited from nominating, fielding, endorsing, supporting, or campaigning for any candidate for con-con delegate.
No aspirant shall represent or allow himself/herself to be represented as a candidate of a political party/coalition. Any person holding public office, including members of the armed forces, shall be considered resigned upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy for con-con delegate.
Con-Con delegates shall not be eligible to run in the first local or national elections after the ratification of the proposed amendments or appointed to any government position while the convention is in session and within one year after its adjournment.
The Senate Secretary and House Secretary-General shall initially convene and preside over the Con-Con at 10 in the morning at the Philippine International Convention Center on Dec. 1, 2023, until it has elected its president and presiding officer.
The amendments proposed by the Con-Con shall be submitted to the people for ratification in a plebiscite to be held not earlier than 60 days nor later than 90 days after the submission of the convention report to the President and Congress.
House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, one of those who voted against the bill, pointed out that the Senate has yet to take action on RBH 6.
“Why are we attempting to pass an implementing law for RBH 6 when, as it is right now, it is not yet ‘implementable,’ so to speak, because it still lacks Senate approval?” Hataman asked.
Hataman added, “Sana rin ay pinaglaanan natin ng mas mahabang panahon ang debate at diskusyon sa implementing law na ito. Bakit tayo nagmamadali eh alam naman nating wala ring mangyayari hangga’t hindi aaksyunan ng Senado ang RBH 6?”
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman also aired a similar view and stressed that the passage of the bill “is patently precipitate and premature as there is nothing yet to be implemented. “
“No less than the Chairman of the sponsoring Committee on Constitutional Amendments (Rep. Rufus Rodriguez) admitted in plenary session that Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 is not yet complete, effective, and implementable pending its approval by the Senate,” Lagman said.
Lagman also said that sponsors of RBH 6 have “repeatedly and correctly admitted” that the agenda of Con-Con cannot be controlled by Congress and the political provisions in the Constitution can be altered, including term limits.
